Method for reeving lines



G. R. HUNT METHOD FOR REE-VINO LINES July 1, 1941.

Filed Oct. 17. 1939 msp/izz Patented July 1, 1941 UETED STATES PPATE orrlcs METHOD FOR EEEVING LINES Gerald E. Hunt, Riverside, Calif.

Application October 17, 1939, Serial No. 299,836

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a method for reeving cables, etc. and relates more particularly to a method for stringing and unstringing the lines through the sheaves of the hoisting equipment of oil wells, gas wells, etc. and through the sheaves of hoisting mechanisms and block and tackle systems of various characters.

In the drilling of oil and gas wells the heavy strings of well casing, drill pipe, etc. and the various large tools, are handled by a hoisting mechanism comprising a crown block at the top of the well derrick, a traveling block, a heavy cable trained through the blocks and a winch means or draw Works for operating the cable. To obtain the required mechanical advantage it is customary to employ a crown block and traveling block combination embodying pluralities of sheaves. The cable employed is very heavy and difficult to handle and the stringing ,or reeving of the cable through the crown block and traveling block is an arduous, time consuming operation. The unstringing of the cable and the restringing of the blocks with new cable or with cable of a different weight are, of course, accompanied by the same difficulty.

A general object of this invention is to provide a safe, rapid, and time saving method for stringing and unstringing the lines associated with the sheaves and blocks of hoist mechanisms, block and tackle systems, etc.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method by means of which a heavy line or cable may be quickly and easily reeved through the several sheaves of spaced blocks such as the crown block and traveling block of an oil well hoisting means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a practical and eifeotive method of the character mentioned in which a light, sectional line of rope, wire, or cable, is quickly assembled in the correct reeved relation in the blocks, then secured to the heavy hoisting line and then reeled in or pulled to draw the hoisting line through the sheaves of the blocks.

The various object and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred manner of carrying out the method of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a typical well derrick and rotary well drilling rig illustrating the hoisting means in operation. Fig. l is an enlarged side elevation of one of the connecting means. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one of the first steps of the method wherein the line sections are suspended in the derrick for arrangement through the sheaves of the crown block. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing another step of the method wherein the line sections are connected to. depend from the crown block and are conditioned for connection at the traveling block, and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the stringing line completely assembled and reeved and in condition to draw the hoisting cable through the crown block and traveling block.

The method of the present invention is useful in numerous situations Where lines or cables are to be drawn through pulleys, sheaves, etc. For example, the method is useful in reeving the cables employed in the operation of passenger and freight elevators or lifts and in the operation of the elevators of mine shafts, etc. and is useful in all situations where heavy lines are strung through heavy blocks. In the present description I will refer to the method as used to reeve or string the hoisting cable through the crown block and traveling block of a well drilling rig, this being a typical application of the invention; It is to be understood that the invention is not to be construed as limited or restricted to the particular form or application of the invention herein described, but is to be taken as including any features or modifications that may fall within the scope of the claims.

The portion of the well drilling rig illustrated in the accompanying drawing comprises a derrick It havin a floor ll and a water table or crown I2. One or more platforms l3 are provided on the derrick on which the workmenmay stand to facilitate the handling of the equipment. A draw works driven by a power means (not shown) is arranged at one side of the derrick l0 and embodies the usual winding drum 15. A calf wheel I4 is rotatably supported in the lower portion of the derrick i0 andmay be equipped with the usual drive means, brake, .etc. For thepurpose of illustration the line handling wheel I4 is in the side of the derrick Ii! opposite the draw Works drum It. The rotary table It: used in the rotary method of well drilling is supported in the center of the derrick H] at the floor II. In Fig. l I have shown a string S of pipe or casing projecting through the table it and engaged by a hook and swivel H operated by the hoisting equipment.

A crown block C embodying a number of rotatable sheaves I! is supported on the crown l2 of the derrick Ill. A traveling block T operated by a heavyhoist line L may carry the elevator,

the hook and swivel H, and the other tools and equipment employed in the drilling operations. The line L is usually a heavy stranded cable and is reeved through the several sheaves ill of the crown block C and the sheaves i8 of the traveling block T to gain the required mechanical advantage for the handling of the heavy strings of well casing, drill pipe, etc. In the typical arrangement illustrated the crown block C embodies five sheaves I! for handling the line L and the traveling block T has four sheaves 18 for handling the line. The traveling block T is equipped with the usual upper and lower beckets or bails l9. One end of the hoisting line L is normally fixed or is a dead end, while the other end of the lineis reeled on a power driven drum or spooling means. In the typical arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing the line L has its dead end wound on the wheel M and has its active end wound on the draw works drum l5. The line L illustrated in the drawing is arranged in a typical or conventional manner and it may be considered that the line L has'been reeved or strung by the method and apparatus of the invention.

It is believed that the method of the invention will be best understood following a description of the apparatus, and I will first proceed with a detaileddescription of the apparatus employed in reeving the line L through the blocks C and T.

The apparatus may be said to comprise, generally, pluralities of stringing line sections A and B, means 2!] for clamping the sections A and B together and for supporting the line sections in an elevated position in the derrick l where they are conditioned for arrangement through the blocks C and T, and means 2| for connecting the several sections A and B whereby the connected sections form a single continuous line adapted to draw the heavy hoisting line L through the blocks C and T.

The line sections A and B are lengths of rope,

wire, or cable that are sufficiently light and flexible to be readily handled and yet have sufficient strength to draw or pull the hoisting line L through the blocks C and T. The sections A are of equal length and the sections B are of equal length, but it is preferred to make the sections A somewhat longer than the sections B. The line sections A are sufficiently long to extend from adjacent the derrick floor II to the crown block C and to have portions of suitable length depend A and B employed, of course depends upon the number of sheaves l1 and I8 to be strung with the cable or line L. There is a section A and a -section B for each complete line to be reeved through the blocks C and T, a section B to be secured to the hoisting line L, and a section A to extend to a reel or winch for pulling the line assembly through the blocks.

' The means 20 is operable to hold the line sections A and B together in a group or groups and tosupport the sections in an elevated position inthe derrick Ii! so that their upper portions are at or adjacent the crown block C. The means 23 includes a clamp 22 for gripping and retaining the line sections A and B. The clamp 22 may be a U-clamp or C-clamp provided with a screw actuated gripping member 23. The grip-ping member 23 may be operated to securely retain the several line sections A and B in the clamp 22. The clamp 22 is provided with a suitable ball 24 and is adapted to be secured to a utility line or hoisting line 25. The line 25 may be operated in the derrick ID by any suitable or available winch, drum, or line spooling means. In practice the line 25 may be arranged over the catline she-ave 25 of the crown block C and may extend to a drum or cathead 28 of a winch 36. It is preferred to provide the line 25 with a weight; 21 located adjacent the clamp 22 so that the weight of the depending portion of the line 25 does not draw the clamp over the sheave 26.

Assuming that the line 25 is normally or initially trained over the sheave 26 the free end of the line is brought to the derrick floor I I and the clamp 22 is secured to the line. The correct end portions of the line sections A and B are inserted in the clamp 22 and the member 23 is actuated to grip the sections A and B. The line 25 is then operated by the cathead 2! or other suitable drum means to elevate the clamp and the line sections A and B in the derrick ill. The line sections A and B are raised to a position Where their upper ends are adjacent the crown block C in which position the clamp 22 is accessible from the derrick crown 12 or the adjacent platform E3. The lower end of the line 25 is snubbed or fastened to retain the clamp 22 and the lines A and B in the elevated positions. With the parts thus elevated the major portions of the line sections A and B hang freely in the derrick l0 and the sections A have upper portions capable of being easily laid over the sheaves I! of thecrown block C and the sections A and B have lower end portions at the derrick floor H adapted to be arranged under the sheaves l8 of the traveling block T.

The means 2| is provided to connect the ends of the adjacent or related line sections A and B when the sections are arranged as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to form a continuous line reeved through the blocks C and T. In the particular case illustrated one end of each section A and B has an eye 30 and the other ends of the sections have suitable hooks 3! for cooperating with the eyes.

The hooks 3! may have suitable spring closures or keepers 32 for preventing the loss or displacement of the eyes 30.

Itis preferred to give the end portions of the sections A and B or certain elements of the connecting means 2! characteristic or identifying indicia, markings, coloring, or the like, so that the sections A and B may be easily connected in the correct matched or paired relation to form a single continuous line reeved through the blocks C and T in the desired manner. For example, the line section A to be arranged over the first sheave ll of the crown block C may have its upper end portion painted or otherwise colored red, and the upper end portion'of the section B that connects with the said line section A may be I colored in the same manner, and so on.

With the upper portions of the line sections A trained over the sheaves H of the crown block '0, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the upper ends of the B are held by the clamp 22 as illustrated in Fig. 2. However, if desired, the line sections B may be individually freed from the clamp 22 and connected with the related line sections A. The clamp 22 is lowered and removed for further use. Following the connection of the upper portions of the sections A with the upper portions of the sections B the lower portions of the line sections A and B may hang free at the derrick floor II, as illustrated in Fig. 3. These free depending lower portions of the line sectionsA and B are easily reeved through or under the sheaves N3 of the traveling block T and are connected by means of the hooks and eyes30 and 3!. It is to be understood that the lower end portions of the sections A and B are correctly coupled to iorma single continuous line which. passes from a sheave I! of the block C to a sheave" 1B of the block T, then to a second sheave ll of the block C and then to a second sheave I8 of the block T, and so on. The lowerendportions of the line sections A and B or the elements of the means El on these ends of the line sections preferably carry suitable characteristic or identifying indicia, markings, or colorings, so that the related line sections may be located without difiiculty and connected to facilitate the formation of the single continuous sectional line.

With the sections A and B connected adjacent the block C and connected adjacent the block T, to form a continuous stringing line, the assembly has a free end adapted for connection with the free end of the hoisting line L and has a free end adapted for arrangement over the calf wheel M or other line spooling means. With the sections A and B reeved or arranged as i1; lustrated one section B has a free end connected with the end of the hoisting line L at 3 1 and a line section A has a free portion for spooling onto the winch 36 or other spooling means. The sections A and B are preferably proportioned so that there is considerable slack in the stringing line formed by the connected sections and this slack may be taken up in initially spooling the end of the line assembly on the winch 36. Any form of coupling means may be employed to connect the end of the reeving line with the hoisting line L at 3 3.

The method of the invention for stringing the line L through the blocks C and T may be said to comprise, generally, the provision of the line sections A and B, the suspension of the sections A. and B in the derrick it where they may be readily trained through the blocks C and T, the training of the sections A and B through the blocks C and T, the connecting of the related sections A and B, the connecting of the reeved sections A and B with the line L and the reeling in of the connected sections A and B to draw the line L through the blocks.

The sections A and B constructed as described above are light in weight and readily transported to the derrick ID. The line sections A and B are preferably arranged in bundles or groups as illustrated in Figs. 2 and it may be preferred to arrange the sections in order in their respective groups for immediate connection with the related sections. The sections A and B arranged in groups as just described are positioned to have their end portions received in the clamp 22 and the member 23 is screwed down to secure the line sections in the clamp. This operation, of course, may be performed at the derrick floor H. The line 25 is then operated to elevate the clamp 22 and the line sections A and B secured therein. The line 25 is operated to bring the clamp 22 to a position adjacent the crown I2 and the platform 13 where the projecting upper end portions of, the sections A and B are readily accessibleto workmen. at the crown l2 and platform It. The free upper end portions of the sections A extending from the clamp 22 are arranged or threaded through the crown block C to extend over the selected or correct sheaves ll. The end parts of the line sections A are free and easily manipulated and this operation may be readily performed.

With thesections A and B suspended from the. clamp 22 and the sections A trained through the. block 0 the upper ends of the related or paired sections A and B are connected. The line sections A and B are easily and quickly connected by means of the eyes 30 and hooks 3|. As above described the sections B are preferably connected with the related sections A adjacent the crown block C or at the platform l3 while the sections A and B are held by the clamp'22. In this connection it will be observed that the upper ends of both the sections A and B are free and readily accessible for connection. Following the connection of the upper ends of the sections A and B the clamp 22 is released and the sections are allowed to hang from the block C as line units as illustrated in Fig. 3 so that their lower ends are free and accessible at the block I. The workmen at the floor I i may easily connect the-related or matched lower ends of the sections A and B. The colored, numbered, or otherwise marked ends of the related sections A and B are easily matched or paired oiT for connection to assure the correct stringing of the sections A and B through the blocks C and T.

With the line sections A and B connected together to form a single continuous stringing line, one end of this line hangs free and may be secured to and reeled on the winch 3G or any other available Winch or line reeling means. The other free end of the line assembly is connected with the casing line or hoist line L at 34 The winch 3B is operated to reel in the stringing line made up of the connected sections A and B. In the particular case illustrated in the drawing the casing line or hoist line L is initially reeled on the draw works drum l5 and as the line sections A and B are reeled onto the winch 33 the line L unreels from the draw works drum l5 and follows the winch. The stringing line is then disconnected from the hoist line L at 34 and the line L is secured to the calf wheel i l to be partially reeled thereon. This completes the reeving or stringing of the line L. The sections A and B may be unreeled from the winch 36 and disconnected for further use at other derricks, or if desired, the sections A and B may be left reeled on the winch 36 for subsequent use in unstringing the line L or for stringing a new or replacement line through the blocks.

In employing the method of the invention in unreeving or unstringing the line L from the blocks C and T the sections A and B are first assembled or connected to constitute a single continuous line. The sections A and B may be connected in their paired relationship as described above. The line made up of the connected sections A and B is connected with the dead end of the line L that is normally connected with the bail IQ of the block T or with the calf wheel M and the draw works drum i5 is operated to reel in the line L. The line L is reeled in until the stringing line made up of the sections A and B is fully reeved through the blocks C and T. In other words the draw works drum i5 is operated to reel in the line L to :bring the sections A and B to a position such as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing. The line L is then disconnected from the stringing line at 34 and the line made up of the sections A and B is manipulated to bring the eyes 30 into substantial alignment. The lower portions of the sections A and B are then disconnected to free the sections from the traveling block T. The clamp 22 is connected with the line and brought to a position adjacent the crown H. or the platform 13 to receive and hold the sections A. The sections A and B are brought into and secured by the clamp 22 suspended by the line 25 and the upper ends of the sections A and B are disconnected. The line 25is then operated to lower thesections A and B to the derrick floor II. The sections A and B may then be freed from the clamp 22 and prepared for transportation or further use.

Having described only a typical preferred manner of carrying out the method of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The method of reeving a line through the sheaves of spaced blocks by means of a plurality of line sections, said method comprising training the sections through the blocks to engage in the sheaves, connecting the sections in end to end relation to form a continuous stringing line having two ends, securing one end of said stringing line to the line to be reeved, and then drawing on the other end of the stringing line to pull the line to be reeved through the blocks.

2. The method of stringing a line on spaced sheaves comprising supporting a plurality of stringing line sections where free end portions of the same are adjacent the sheaves, training said end portions on the sheaves, connecting said sections in end to end relation to form a continuous stringing line trained through the sheaves and having two ends, connecting an end portion of said stringing line with the first named line, and then pulling the stringing line to pull the same through the sheaves and thus reeve said first named line in the sheaves.

3. The method of reeving a hoist line through the crown block and traveling block of a well derrick comprising arranging two groups of light line sections in the derrick, threading portions of the sections of one group through the sheaves of the crown block so that there is a line section on each sheave, connecting the upper ends of the sections of one group with the upper ends of the sections of the other group to form line units suspended from the sheaves of the crown block each unit comprising a section of each group, threading one lower portion of each of the line units through the traveling block to engage in a sheave vof the same, connecting the lower ends of the successive line unit to form a single continuous stringing line which is reeved, through the blocks and which has two free ends, connecting one of said free ends with the hoist line, and then pulling on the other free end to pull the stringing line through the blocks and thus reeve the hoist line in the blocks.

4. The method of reeving a hoist line through the crown block and traveling block of a well derrick comprising suspending two groups of light line sections inthe derrick to be adjacent the crown block, threading portions of the sections of one group through the crown block so that each line section is engaged in a sheave of the block, connecting the upper ends of the sections of one group with the upper ends of the sections of the other group to form line units suspended from the sheaves of the crown block, each unit comprising a section of each group, threading one lower portion of each line unit through the traveling block to each engage in a sheave of the same, connecting the lower ends of the successive line units to form a single continuous stringing line which is reeved through the blocks and has two free ends, connecting one of said free ends with the hoist line, and then pulling on the other free end to pull the stringing line through the blocks and thus reeve the hoist line in the blocks.

5. The method of reeving a hoisting line through a pair of spaced sheave blocks each having a plurality of sheaves, the method comprising arranging the intermediate portions of a group of line units on the sheaves of one block so that there is a line unit on each sheave of the same, training one end portion of each line unit onto a sheave of the other block, connecting the line units in end to end relation to form a single continuous stringing line having two ends, connecting one end portion of the stringing line thus formed with the hoisting line, and moving the stringing line through the blocks to reeve the hoisting line through the blocks.

6. The method of reeving a hoist line through spaced sheave blocks each having a plurality of sheaves comprising reeving a light stringing line through the blocks by arranging two groups of light line sections Where they have end portions adjacent one block, training the line sections of one group on the sheaves of said block, connecting an end of each section of one group with a section of the other group to form line units each comprising one section of each group and each engaging a sheave of said block, threading the line units on the sheaves of the other block, and connecting the line units in end to end relation to form a single continuous stringing line threaded through the two blocks and having only two free ends, and then utilizing the reeved stringing line to reeve the first named line by connecting one of said free ends with said hoist line, and then pulling on the other free end to pull the stringing line through the blocks and reeve said hoist line in the blocks.

GERALD R. HUNT. 

